Stories from Monday, November 7, 2011

IMPERIAL, Nebraska -- Charlie Leibbrandt, 62, died Thursday (Nov. 3, 2011), at his home in Imperial. Survivors include his wife: Merrilyn of Imperial; parents, Martin and Lois Leibbrandt of Imperial; daughter, Amy Johnson and husband, Maurice, of Fountain, Colorado; son, Chad Leibbrandt and wife, Amy, of Imperial; brothers, Steve Leibbrandt and wife, Deb, of Imperial and Tim Leibbrandt and wife, Terri, of Imperial; sister, Kathy Hult and husband, Dave, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, step-son, Paul Dawkins; step-daughter, Janice Haarberg and husband, Tracy, of Imperial; step-son, Matt Dawkins of Arvada, Colorado; step-daughter, Meghan Parker, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and sevengrandchildren. ...

Ardis M. (Smith) Boersma Nov. 6, 1915 - Nov. 5, 2011. COLBY, Kansas -- Ardis M. (Smith) Boersma, 95, formerly of Bird City, Kansas, died Saturday (Nov. 5, 2011) at Citizens Medical Center in Colby, Kansas. She was born Nov. 6, 1915 at Cheyenne County, Kansas. She was a retired elementary school teacher...

Donald Joseph Jeffres May 30, 1937 - Nov. 5, 2011 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Donald Joseph Jeffres, 74, of Upland, Nebraska died Saturday, (Nov. 5, 2011), at Good Samaritan Hospital, in Kearney, Nebraska. He was born on May 30, 1937, at Ogallala, Nebraska to Ralph and Evangeline (Jasnoch) Jeffres...

Penny Lynn Noe March 28, 1977 - Nov. 5, 2011 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Penny Lynn Noe died Saturday Nov.5, 2011, at her home in McCook, Nebraska at the age of 34. She was born March 28, 1977 in McCook, Nebraska, the daughter of David and Connie (Jones) Noe...

June Huffman Aug. 15, 1916 - Nov. 5, 2011 MCCOOK, Nebraska --June Huffman passed away Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Hillcrest NursingHome in McCook at the age of 95. She was born Aug. 15, 1916, in McCook, the daughter of the late Cassie Theodore and Martha Ruth (Turner) Allen...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Hormel Family Foundation, in partnership with Invest Nebraska Corp., conducted its Fifth Annual Business Plan Competition Friday at McCook Community College. Three McCook entrepreneurs presented their business plan ideas to local judges for the chance to win a $25,000 equity investment...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Inductees have been announced for the 2011 Bison Alumni Wall of Fame at McCook, Nebraska, Senior High. They are Brigadier General Gerald Eugene McIlmoyle, Class of 1948, and Don Thompson, Class of 1928. JERRY McILMOYLE Jerry McIlmoyle was nominated for flying U-2 reconnaissance over Cuba and providing information to help avert the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962...

If you've wondered where the impetus behind the "occupy" movement originates, a new Pew Study may offer some insight. According to an analysis of census data, the net worth of a household headed by a person 65 or older has a net worth 47 times greater than a household headed by someone under 35...

Bob Stake is a fellow who has been my friend for over 60 years. He's a college professor now (and still teaching!), but years ago we were roommates at the University of Nebraska and have kept in touch on a regular basis ever since. But more than that, our paths keep crossing, in unexpected places---all over the world...

Hitchcock County's girls punched their ticket for a trip to state with a district volleyball championship Thursday, Nov. 3. The Falcons defeated Kenesaw in straight sets (25-20, 25-14, 25-20) to win the Class D1-5 District final at Bertrand High School...

TILDEN, Neb. -- A huge fourth quarter Friday, Nov. 4, helped give Hitchcock County a shot at the Nebraska state six-man prep football championship. The Falcons pulled away from host Elkhorn Valley to claim a 48-28 victory in the six-man playoff semifinals at Tilden...

CURTIS, Neb. -- Medicine Valley's football team played the role of giant killer in the second round of the Class D-2 (eight-man) state high school football playoffs. The Raiders will try to play that role again Tuesday, Nov. 8, while facing another unbeaten team in the D-2 playoff quarterfinals...

McCook High School head football coach Jeff Gross has talked all season long about his special group of playmakers on the 2011 Bison edition. The Bison won several games this season on big plays late in those contests, and McCook even claimed a pair of overtime victories...

Carlton James O'Dea McCOOK, Nebraska --Carlton James O'Dea, 73, died Sunday. (Nov. 6, 2011) Services are pending. Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

George Merlin Yonkers May 9, 1921 - Nov. 6, 2011 McCOOK, Nebraska --George Merlin Yonkers passed away Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, at his home in McCook. He was 90 years old. George was born in Hayes County, Nebraska to Anthony Benjamin and Lucy D. (Brownell) Yonkers on May 9, 1921. He graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1940...

Helen Lucille Dixson OGALLALA, Nebraska -- Helen Lucille Dixson passed away Saturday (Nov. 5, 2011), at the Ogallala Community Hospital. Helen was born on the family farm 10 miles north of Palisade, Nebraska in Hayes County, to Walter E. and Edna L. (Potter) Sander. She attended grade school at District No. 9 and graduated from Hayes Center High School. After graduation she went on to Beatrice Beauty Academy to become a licensed cosmetologist...